As editor of Plastics News, I scan scores of websites, emails and news releases daily and stay in constant touch with our network of global staff reporters and correspondents - the largest reporting team in the plastics industry. I distill the more interesting items into commentary for this blog.

I posted more than 2,500 news stories on our site last year. I have to admit that it was pretty obvious that some of them were going to be very popular.

Then, like in previous years, there are always one or two that leave me scratching my head.

10. Say so long to recycling code arrows. This story impacts most of the global plastics industry, Plus we had the story first, and our coverage included details on the debate behind the decision, and key information on when plastics processors will have to make the changes. Big news story.

Starnes described being held hostage in his plant, and an all-night negotiating session consisting of him alone facing a crowd of more than 100 employees, their family members, vendors and government officials.

7. Coffee makers wrestle with recyclability of single-serve pods. A shared story from our colleagues at Waste & Recycling News — and within a few weeks, Jennifer Kalish was part of PN's staff. Who knew? With the explosion of single-serve coffee pods, you have to figure that there will be a ton of interest in their sustainability story. It turns out that the pods are pretty tough to recycle.

4. McDonald's to phase out PS hot beverage cups. It's great to be first with a big story. We got a boost with this one when both the Chicago Tribune and Crain's Chicago Business posted links to our story in their first reports about the decision — not to mention numerous blogs and news aggregation sites.

3. In the wake of Spartech purchase, PolyOne closing six plants. Like the Berry story, this coverage of a major company was closely read. And having a complete list of the plant closings before anyone else meant we got a lot of extra clicks from readers looking for more information about their own plants.

2. Nypro: Sale to Jabil will allow growth. If we combined all of the clicks on all of our stories about Jabil buying Nypro, this would easily be the No. 1 story. It was the biggest plastics story of 2013.

1. Dreamliners and Volts share batteries, but safety regimes differ. I linked to this story in the Plastics Blog a few months ago, and called it a bit of an anomaly, but a story that shows the power of social media and linking. It's a story from our sister paper Crain's Chicago Business, but our version became very popular in the universe of blogs, emails and news sites that follow Boeing, General Motors, and the technical problems with the 787 Dreamliner.

This report is a review and analysis of the North American Plastics Recycling Industry, including key trends and statistics based on 2013 performance. We examine market environment factors, regulatory issues, industry challenges, key drivers and emerging trends in post-consumer and post-industrial recycling.

This report analyzes the $20 billion plastics industry in Mexico including sales of machinery & equipment, resins and finished products.

Our analysts provide insight on business trends, foreign investment, top end markets and plastics processing activity. The report also provides important data on exports, production, employment and value of plastics products manufactured.